TWC Today Forums
Present - The Weather Channel 2000 => Everything Else TWC => Topic started by: Spring Rubber on May 29, 2008, 07:07:12 AM
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Starting with today's YWT, TWC has started pillar boxing SD programming on the HD channel. IMO, it's kind of annoying. I *hate* pillar boxing. It distracts from the program and just rubs in the fact that it's not HD.
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Wait, they've just started? I thought SD programming on the HD channel has always been pillar boxed, like this:
(http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/3655/snapshot20080529074346eq0.jpg)
If they've just started, how was it before? Stretch-o-vision?
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Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen that technique. :huh:
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Yeah, many local news stations use that format, Matt. :yes:
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Distracting would be if they used the pillarbars for forecast information.
Is it just a standard black bar, or is it a custom bar?
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Why exactly do they do this? I know it's to indicate that it isn't HD, but it's pretty annoying.
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That way the non-HD programming looks natural, instead of being really s t r e t c h e d out.
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I meant to say stylized pillar boxing started today; they were black before today. I'd much prefer the black ones back.
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So you mean they have the logo and design on the pillar boxing, kind of like ESPN HD?
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Yeah, the bars are blue with small TWC|HD| logos in the background behind a large |HD| logo in the center of each pillar box.
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Anyone have a pic of these per chance?
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Anyone have a pic of these per chance?
You've read my mind, Tyler. I was just about to ask that myself. :P
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Coming up...
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Here we go; first the image from its very first use today...
(http://b.imagehost.org/0944/HDPillars.png)
...and here's the video of the teaser and the opener that it was pulled from.
http://b.imagehost.org/download/0246/HDPillars.avi
See that small piece of wall between the left "column" in the studio and the big backdrop? The light shining on that has burned out since this morning.
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Wow for an SD related show, the quality looks quite clear.
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...isn't that the weekend now backdrop?
edit: nevermind. i always seem to confuse the two :P
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Thanks, SR! :hug:
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Here's a random question... since when did the "weather.com" tag disappear from the logo that briefly shows before opens?
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i also noticed a short cut from the opener played before the teaser came in....hahaha.
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Here's a random question... since when did the "weather.com" tag disappear from the logo that briefly shows before opens?
It disappeared from the HD feed in December on the same day that the drop shadow was restored to the logo on the SD feed.
Oh, and Victor, the HD feed has always had amazingly good upconversion quality. The quality, I'd say, is just one step below actual HD.
In the past week or so, I noticed that the text being output on the chyrons has become jagged on the edges; I wonder if it has something to do with resources being devoted to the HD productions.
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In the past week or so, I noticed that the text being output on the chyrons has become jagged on the edges; I wonder if it has something to do with resources being devoted to the HD productions.
Chyrons? I had to look that one up. Why not just say lower third? :P
BTW, thanks for that screenshot/video, Steve.
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It's not just lower thirds but any graphics that come out of the control room. The lower thirds on packages made in editing (i.e. recorded teasers) still have smooth text.
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That way the non-HD programming looks natural, instead of being really s t r e t c h e d out.
Yeah, like everything on TBS HD except for the syndicated shows actually shot in HD and the Major League Baseball games.
Too had that The Weather Channel didn't make their HD logo bigger and vertical like ESPN does with theirs.
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BTW, they've since changed the |HD| logos in the foreground from white to shades of blue. I guess they realized that the white was a little distracting. It looks better now.
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Now that I think of it, our Fox affiliate does that. Not sure why (or if it's even them -- could be Dish). Either way it's annoying and looks rather unprofessional. Their box looks like someone took uneven strips of paper and taped them to the sides. Thankfully, the only reason I watch that station is for "Family Guy." But even then the box ticks me off. :P
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My CBS used to do that for all 4:3 programming, including the local news and The Late Late Show, and it always bugged me. They stopped doing it with the new year, though.
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This is swaying a bit off topic, but ya know what's even worse than pillarboxing? Windowboxing.
(http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/457/snapshot20080530171607uk6.jpg)
Speaking of which, are the newer WWCH promos finally in HD?
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Nope, not yet; silly, isn't it?